pany him early in the morning to one of the Greek churches to see the two patriarchs and twelve bishops perform mass, and to hear an oration on account of the sultan's having given back to the Greeks their former possessions in Scio. The Sciotes at Constantinople give a great dinner on the occasion, at which the patriarchs and bishops are to be present, and to which Commodore Porter and myself received a card of invitation from the committee of arrangements; but, as the day would be Sunday, we in a note of thanks for their politeness begged them to ex

cuse us.

15. Sabbath. Preached on board the corvette United States. A large number of people were present. Merchants from the city, the masters and crews of several vessels, and various officers from an English cutter just arrived, together with a few Armenians and Greeks. The subject was the "penitent thief," and the attention as usual very good.

18. Epiphany of the Greeks. Went to the Greek church a quarter before six, while it was yet dark; and found a great crowd assembled in the yard, or enclosure of the church, and the priests chanting their service over a barrel, or large firkin of water, with the cross planted by the side of it. As soon as they had finished blessing and consecrating it, and were retiring to the church, there was a universal rush of the people for some of the holy water to drink, and to carry away and preserve in bottles; and such pushing, pulling, scrambling, bawling, ensued, as I have seldom seen even at foot-ball.

it first. They proceeded, chanting as they went, to a fine quay opposite to the Russian palace. I stood on the very lowest step, with the priest on the same step next to me on one side, and six naked fellows, shivering with the cold on the other, while an immense crowd of people were behind, stretching along the shore to the right and left, or were in boats directly in front. In order to deceive the poor fellows, and put them off their guard, the priest several times raised his hand, "and made as if"they laughed at the artifice practised upon them, and the people laughed, and the priest looked at me, and laughed as heartily as any of them. At length he threw it two or three rods from the shore, and instantly there was a headlong plunge after it, and a momentary but vehement struggle who should first get possession of it. The successful candidate first immersed it the whole length of his arm beneath the waves, then kissed it, and presented it successively to the lips of his comrads for a salute from each of them. The ladies in the boats now vociferated to him, all unclothed as he was, to come to them, that they might next enjoy the privilege of kissing it. This, as it the priests and elders on shore were in the appeared, he felt constrained to do, though mean time bawling after him to hasten back to them, that they might give it the same token of love, and march it back in triumph to the church.

The aga of the village was present to keep order on the occasion-a mussulman, with a whip in his hand, to keep Christians from devouring one another, or committing any excesses, during their religious solemnities. The whole appeared like a farce. The Greeks, however, do not consider this baptising of the cross as a strictly religious and indispensable institution; but it is a ceremony-a custom which prevails in this country, and even in Russia, and is just such a scene as the Greeks like. Those who cast themselves into the water after

On entering the church, I was conducted to the seat belonging to the principal priest, and where I of course had a good view of all that passed. In the midst of the chants and prayers, this priest went at different times through the crowd with a basin or cruise of the holy water in one hand, and a small brush made of a few twigs tied together in the other, and while the people the cross, have the privilege of carrying it bowed down to kiss his hand, he sprinkled round that day from house to house for peothem with the brush dipped in the holy ple to kiss, and of receiving offerings from water, and crossed them on the forehead those disposed to reward their zeal by mak with it. In one instance P., seeing the ing them a present. The Russian ambaspriest approach near where he was stand-sador, it is said, gave them sixty piastres on ing, hastily retreated, and left the house. this occasion. How affecting that the services and ceremonies of the church are such, that conscientious men cannot join in them!

Near the close, the same priest carried round broken (a representation of sacramental) bread; and again there was a general scramble of men, women, and children to get a bit; and on bowing down the head to receive it, they always kissed the hand that gave it.

A large procession was now formed, and the principal priest carried the cross with great formality and ceremony to baptise it, as they term it, i. e. throw it into the Bosphorus, and see who will plunge in and get

While in the church I saw a little sick child brought in, and its lips, being made to touch the pictures of Christ and of the virgin, were then moistened with the holy water, in order to effect a cure.

During the public prayers, or the reading of the Scriptures, the people generally ap peared to yield suitable and serious attention, however little they understood of either, and it is much to be regretted that they are not, particularly the latter, in the vulgar tongue; but at other times they were full of frolic and noisy mirth, and the question again and again forced itself upon my mind, "Is this the house of God? Are

we engaged in divine worship?" When the || tion mentioned by him, had been put into priest carried round in the church the bread the hands of the children; and that, if he elevated upon his head, and another follow-requested it, a copy of all the books used in ed with the wine, all the people uncovered the schools should be sent him for his extheir heads, and bowed down most rever- amination. ently with their faces almost to the ground, crossing themselves in the Greek orthodox manner, and in rich abundance.

19. According to previous appointment, the Russian and Spanish ministers called on Commodore Porter, and accompanied us to the "village school." Here we found Mr. S. and many of the principal Greek inhabitants. The children went through their various exercises of reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic very satisfactorily, and one pretty little boy drew with a piece of chalk on a black board, horizontal, perpendicular, and parallel lines, cylinders, acute and obtuse angles, and a sphere with its meridians and parallels of latitude, at the direction of the teacher. The five charity boys of Commodore Porter were brought forward, and the best one among them rewarded publicly by him for his diligence and good behavior. He was a little fellow, "the only son of his mother, and she a widow." The system was altogether new to the Russian and Spanish ambassadors, and they were much amused at the operation of it, and expressed their astonishment at the progress the children had made in so short a time. On retiring they left a small donation for the school, and expressed their determination of supporting some children in it, after the example set them by the American minister.

I have myself been very careful to have no books introduced into the schools, either by myself or teachers, which could give any reasonable cause of offence, and I am confident that no imprudent act of this kind can be justly charged to us. And the press at Malta happily furnishes us with whatever is wanted in this respect-books in abundance, and entirely free from every thing sectarian, or any bias and blind attachment to a mere party.

27. As the Russian ambassador had requested that five poor boys might be found and placed in the school on his account, P. brought to-day the required number, all'or. phans but one, miserable objects, whom he had literally picked up from "the high ways and hedges.' The Commodore smiled at their appearance, they having evidently been taken hungry and cold from the dampest, darkest hovels of ignorance and wretchedness; but having ascertained their names, and ages, and circumstances, he sent them forward with a line of introduction to the representative of his imperial majesty. His excellency, whose kindness of heart and urbanity of manners are spoken of by all who have the happiness of his acquaintance, received them very graciously; gave each one a present of money; sent to Commodore Porter the sum necessary to pay their tuition at school for three months, 24. Yesterday accompanied Commodore and begged to know whether he could afPorter on horseback through the numerous ford them any other charity. It was finally villages on the Thracian side of the Bosconcluded that they should have each a phorus to Galata. We were between four new suit of clothes; and the Commodore, and five hours on the road, and were much who is always forward in deeds of benevogratified with the excursion from the novel-lence, cheerfully offered to take upon himnty of it, passing, as we did, round the bays, and creeks, over the headlands, and through the successive villages, with which the line of coast is diversified. To-day we returned by the usual route inland. In our school 28. Madam the married sister of at Galata is a pretty little girl, the daughter the house of- has had a serious attack of a priest, whom I rewarded for her pro- of illness. I called at different times to inficiency. L. informed me that on the quire after her health, but not being invitSabbath previous, he called on the Greeked by any of the family to her chamber, patriarch in order to stir up his zeal in regard to the schools. Several of his priests and deacons were present, who spoke in favor of them, as did also the patriarch himself. But as soon as the others had retired, he desired L. to sit near him and said in a

low voice that the people were generally ignorant, and afraid of heresy; that some books of an objectionable character were in circulation, and that a school had been opened at Buyuk-Dere, in which heretical books were reported to have been introduced. "And what," continued he, "am I to do if complaints are made? It is impossible but that I must take notice of them." L. assured him that he had been altogether misinformed; that no books of the descrip

self the trouble of getting them suitably clothed-an offer, which his excellency accepted with suitable acknowledgments for the courtesy.

She

and not thinking it best to make a formal request to visit her, lest they might consider it intrusion, or the motive might be misunderstood, I did not have an opportunity of seeing her. But Mrs. Goodell recently called and sat with her some time. inquired for me, requested my prayers, and complained of my not having visited her. Yesterday I went in company with Mrs. Goodell. At the bottom of the stairs we met the other princess, who said that her sister was anxious to have me come, and converse with her about God. We ascended to her chamber, but found her asleep. This morning I called again. She seized my hand, and wept like a child. I had much conversation with her in Turkish,

which I also interpreted to her husband in Italian. Her frame of mind is something like David's, when he saw with grief "the prosperity of the wicked," and "was envious at the foolish."

Went into the school, and saw half a dozen boys, who had been indolent or disorderly, kneeling down in a corner of the room, with their faces to the wall, and their crimes attached to their backs, and all the other scholars drawn up in regular order around, and one of them delivering in a very energetic manner a speech on good behavior, in which he occasionally referred with very expressive looks and motions to the delinquents on their knees, and some of them weeping before their eyes.

26. A little girl, born in this country of German parentage, and of a very poor family, whom we employed partly by way of charity, to assist in taking care of the babe, was this day married. She is but about 13 years old, is a mere child, and knows next to nothing about any thing. Her husband is between thirty and forty-old enough to be her father-and will probably be often and with reason induced not to spare the rod for her crying.'

31. One of the boys belonging to the school was instantly killed on Sunday by the discharge of a gun. He was about 12 years old, was one of the best scholars, and a monitor of the school. The children appeared to be affected and to be made solemn by the event. P. read to them Mark xiii. 33—37, and spoke to them on the importance of being also ready. Some of them were in tears. I brought away with me some specimens of his writing, and afterwards called on the mother and family, all of whom were in deep affliction. May the event be sanctified!

Feb. 2. This morning, on going early to Therapia to take coffee with our esteemed friends, the Rev. Dr. and Miss Walsh, we saw frost and ice for the first time, and pointed them out as a curiosity to our children, they having never seen either before in their lives. Miss Walsh, with the approbation and blessing of her father, will henceforth instruct daily in English a few Anglo-Armenian children at Therapia, as Mrs. Goodell has already commenced doing at Buyuk-Dere. They speak only Greek, Turkish, and a little French. There are several respectable families of this description in this country, who are very desirous for a school, and who would be willing to pay for the instruction of their children, but they live so scattered, that the school for them must, to accommodate them all, necessarily be a boarding-school.

3. Rode with the Commodore to see a sick man, whom he discovered yesterday lying on leaves in a cavity or hole beside the road, nearly a mile from any inhabited dwelling. He is a Mussulman, and is said to be 109 years old. We found him entirely alone, though his son attends upon him,

when he is not abroad upon business, viz. begging. We gave the miserable old man something to relieve his wants, and as we rode on, I could not keep from contrasting our situation with his, and remembering who it is that makes us to differ.

4. I have called almost every day at the house of - Madam is now much

better, and has been convalescent ever since my first visit, which she ascribes entirely under God to my prayers. I had much interesting conversation with her and her sister. They both appeared very grateful to me; and were sure that relief from pain, and restoring mercies were granted in special answer to my prayers. They acknowledged that though they sometimes read the gospel, yet they did not practice it, and that I was the only one they had ever known who kept the commandments of God. I spoke to them on the importance of improving their afflictions; of praying for sanctifying grace; of their need of the holy Spirit; on the necessity of walking according to the precepts of the gospel, if we would be true Christians and be happy in the world to come; and on our duty to look beyond all human instruments and means, and to acknowledge God in all our ways.

They referred, as they have often done before, to their reduced circumstances, and to the mysterious providences of God towards them-their father and brother being both hung or beheaded the same day, by order of the present sultan, their posses sions seized upon, ‘and all their pleasant things laid waste.' I reminded them of the troubles of Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, and Job, and especially of Him, who "had not where to lay his head.".

I hope it may not be in vain that by the conflagration of Pera, we were brought into an intimacy with this pleasant family. It is certainly worthy of remark and special gratitude, that in the time of their afflic tion they should send for me, instead of their own priest, to give them religious instruction, and commend their case to God in prayer. May much good result from it!

The dresses for the five boys of the Rus sian ambassador being ready, the objects of this charity were again brought to be invested. The Commodore has taken pains to have all their clothes alike, and, when they had put them on, they looked like an entirely new generation of boys, and were marched off, smiling and happy, amidst much cheering, to the Russian palace. His excellency was much pleased with their renovated appearance, and gave each one a twenty piastre piece to carry home to com fort the heart of his mother.

Under date of May 11th, Mr. Goodell writes;

To Commodore Porter, both the Board and ourselves are under very special obligations, we having been members of his 11

family, and having every day partaken of his hospitality, and truly parental attentions from October 19th to March 24th, a little more than five months. As a requital for his kindness to us and ours, in furnish-to-day perhaps will be absent to-morrow. ing us with such accommodations and comforts, we can only pray that he and all his may have "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

whose conduct, and whose manners tell || Gen. McIntosh, a striking instance of the that they have been at school. And among power of divine grace. The other as strikthe Creeks, I wish to remark, those haveing, a son of Perryman, one of the former decidedly the advantage of their compan-chiefs, very dissolute and depraved till the ions, who have been at school at some sta- time of his conversion year before last. tion in the east. Several of these are not The Lord be praised for his tender love to only pious but very useful to their people these souls. by their counsel, their prayers, and their lives: and every where among the Cherokees, we meet with those youths that show by their good conduct, and some by their piety, that they have been members of the mission school.

In our report of last year we had the satisfaction of stating that all, that is, more than fifty children could read in the Testament except two. Among the Creek children a change has taken place. A number of new ones have come in the place of those that could read well; so that the proportion of readers is less than the last year. Still several who read the last year, advanced into grammar, arithmetic, and geography, are progressing in those studies. About three fourths of the school can read in the Testament, and one third are in the higher branches. All are improving except a few who belong to the infant school who have at this time no instructress. Except these the school is prosperous. The children are generally obedient and some are pleasant and agreeable. In this respect the school is far more desirable than when the commissioners were here, when it was composed only of Osage children, with scarcely a motive to be any thing after all their improvement, but Ösages.

earnestness.

One or two among our hired hands, persons of color, have been seeking salvation. One certainly all the year, and with some And another has obtained a hope of his pardon. He is certainly reformed, and appears pious, though we have not encouraged him to join the church. But the children of the school though they give good attention to the weekly lecture, and to other religious instruction manifest generally no lasting concern.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. VAILL,
DATED UNION, JUNE 20, 1832.

Church among the Creeks.

OUR little church now consists of more than sixty members. The work is going forward. It is embracing one after another in a steady progress. Formerly it was confined to the blacks, now it is increasing among the Indians, and the audiences have increased to 300 at the central meeting ground, besides several other smaller meetings held in different places. The continued presence of Christ among the Creek Indians of the Arkansas carrying forward his own work of love in the conversion of many souls, calls for praise to God.

Two of our church have died in triumph the last year. One, a widow of the late

We still continue our visits among them, lately I have preached to them two Sabbaths out of three, and every Sabbath with greater interest than the last.

Never have I been acquainted with a revival so steadily progressing for four years.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. WIL-
LIAM C. REQUA, DATED HOPEFIELD,
JULY 3, 1832.

Change of Habits among the Osages.

SINCE our last report of the state and progress of the settlement, no considerable changes have taken place. A gradual advancement in agricultural pursuits, in civil and religious knowledge, and also in moral conduct is apparent. There are twentytwo families resident here, that have under a pretty good state of cultivation about seventy acres of land, planted generally with corn, that bids fair to produce fifty Beside corn, they

bushels to the acre.

have a variety of garden vegetables growing that look well, such as different kinds of beans, melons, pumpkins, potatoes, &c. We have supplied every family with seed Potatoes, and all have planted more or less; and all are remarkably fond of them. The potato will soon become an article of produce among the Osages generally. Here it is considered reputable for men to labor and be industrious in cultivating their fields, and making improvements; and even at the large town on the Verdigris, a few families have separated themselves from the mass of the people to cultivate the land, in imitation of the people of this place. The example of farming set here by this little band has great influence upon the minds of the Osages generally. They now say at the Osage town, on the Verdigris, "We desire to become farmers, and have those among us who will teach us, and assist us in giving us ploughs and oxen, that we may raise corn and tame cattle." The Hopefield Indians have done their own ploughing this season, without any assistance from us, except the use of a yoke of oxen. They are becoming skilled in driving oxen and managing the plough. Several of the settlers will probably raise 200 bushels of corn each more than they will need for their own consumption. They are more and more pleased with the idea of raising their domestic animals, and on realizing the benefit of having meat to eat without procuring it by the chase. The love of settled life increases as they acquire